Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-08-06
CHAPTER vi.
the NIGHT WEARS on.

AS may be imagined, at the very first sign
of Nasal the entire population of the mis-
sion station had sought refuge inside the stout
stone wall, and were now TO be seen--men,
women and countless children-huddled up
together in little groups, and all talking at
once in awed tones of the awfulness Of Nasal
manners and customs and of the fate that
they had to expect if those bloodthlrsty saw
ages succeeded in getting over the stone wall.
Immediately after we had settled upon the
outline OF our plan Of action as suggested by
Umslopogaas, Mr. Mackenzie sent for four
sharp boys of from l2 TO 10 years OF age, and
dispatched then TO various points whence
they could keep an outlook upon the Nasal
camp, with orders TO report from time to
time what was going on. Other lads, aud
even women were stationed at intervals
along the wall, in order TO guard against tue
possibility OF surprise.
After this the twenty men who formed his
whole available fighting force were sum
moned by our host into the square formed by
the house, and there, standing by the bole OF
the great confer, he earnestly addressed
them and our four Askari.
1Men,n said Mr. Mackenzie, after he had
put all the circumstances of the case fully
and clearly before them, and explained 10
them the proposed plan of our forlorn hope
"men, for years have been a good friend to
you, protecting you, teaching you, guarding
you and yours from harm, and ye have
prospered with me. We have seen my child
the Waterlily, as ye call her-grow year
by year, from tenderest infancy 10 tender
childhood, and from childhood ON toward
maidenhood She has been your childrens
playmate, she has helped to tend you when
sick, and ye have loved her"
awe have" said deep voice, "and we will
die to save her"
II thank you from my heart--1 thank YOU
Sure am that now, In this hour of darkest
trouble, now that her young life is like 70 be
cut off by cruel and savage men--who of
truth know not what they do'-ye viii strive
your best TO save her, and TO save me and her
mother from broken hearts, Think, too, OF
your own wives and children. II she dies,
her death will be followed by an attack upon
us here, and at the best, even If we hold our
own, your houses and gardens viii be de-
stroyed and your goods and cattle swept
away | am, as ye well know, man OF
peace Never in all these years have lifted
my hand TO shed mans blood; but now | say
strike. strike, in the name OF God, who babe
US protect our lives and homes Swear 70
me-" he went on, with added fervor--"swear
TO me that while a man of you remains alive
ye viii strive your uttermost with me and
with these brave white men to save the child
from bloody and a cruel death"
"Say no more, my father" said the same
deep voice, that belonged TO a stawart elder
of the mission; eve swear it. May we and
ours die the death Of dogs. and our bones be
thrown 20 TIE iackas and the kites, If we
break the oath Il is fearful thing to do,
my father SO few to strike at so many, yet
win we do il or die in tho doing. WeswearP
"Av. thus say we all /" chimed in the others.
"Thus say We all, said |.
ut is we'll went ON Mr.. Mackenzie. "Ye
are true men and not broken reefs TO lean
on. And now we VIII begin our preparations
in good earnest"
The men who were 10 form each little
party were carefully selected, and still more
carefully and infinitely instructed as to
what was to be aone. After much con-
sideiati0n IL vas agreed that The ten mea led
by Good, whose duty it was 60 stampede the
camp. were ntt 70 carry firearms; that is,
with the exception OF Good himself, who had
d revolver as wen rs a short sword--the
Nasal esime" which l had taken from the
body Of our poor servant who was murdered
in the canoe. We feared that ii they had fire
arms tho resu,5 Of three cross fires carried on
at once would be that some Of our own people
would be shot; besides. it appeared to oil Of
US that the work they had to do would
best be carried out with cold steel-es-
peciallv to Umslopogaas, who was, indeed,
a great advocate Of cold steel. We had with
US four Winchester repeating rifles, besides
half dozen Martins armed myself with
one al the repeaters-ny own; an excellent
afs
rapidity Of Gre is desirable, and fitted with
ordinary flap sights, instead Of the usual
cumbersome sliding mechanism which they
generally have Mr. Mackenzie took another,
and the two remaining ones were given to
two Of his men, who understood the use OF
them and were noted shots. The Martins and
some rifles Of Mr.. Mackenzie's were served
out, together with plentiful supply Of am
munition, to the other natives who were to
form the two parties whose duty it was to be to
open fire from separate sides Of the kraal on